Motor-vehicle top



MOTOR VEHICLE: TOP

Filed ocx. 22, 192e z sheets-sheet Y1 /y i A TTORNEY Feb. 25, 1930.

F, A; sELJE MOTOR VEHICLE To? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 22. 192s Patented Feb. 25., 1930 UNlTED STATES Para em-Seis;

FREDERICK A. SELTE, vOF DETROIT, MICHIGAN; ASSIG'NORTf CHRYSLERlCORPRATION, 0F HIGHLAND PARK,`MICHIGAN, A 'GORP-ORATIONYOFF IDIilII'iANFABIE` Moron-ventenni moet.

' Appiication mea october z2, i926; s'ei'ai ififaef This invention relates to tops and more particularly to a'folding-top for use on motor vehicles. Y

In the use of folding tops, it has heretofore been customaryto provide rigid members pivoted together in pantograph fashion to form a frame work or support for the fabric covering. The construction has been Y expensive and yundesirable when the top is in folded position, ask the number ofsupports made a bulky and heavy construction.

It is an important object of this invention tov provide a top in which flexible material is used to support the fabric, the frame work being reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention isl to proi vide a top construction in which the fabric may be rolled upon itself when in loweredy position, thus preserving thev ymaterial and preventing checking or cracking as when folded betweeny supports.

A further object is to provide a top adapted to fit within the side walls of the vehicle body when lowered and to extend over the side walls when in raised position. f

These and other objects of the inventionwill more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings7 in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation*` of the top in raised position as applied to an automobile body.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the body showing in dotted lines the top in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top','parts being broken away.

Figs. 4and 5 are fragmentary views *aty right angles to each other showing in detail a portion of the top bow construction with a hinged member disposed for raised position of the top. I I l Figs. 6 and-7 are views corresponding respectively with Figs. 4 and 5, but showing.

the hinged memberdisposed for lowered position of the top.

Fig. 8 isa sectlonal view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Y Referring to an illustrated embodiment of my invention and more particularly to Figs. land 2 an automobile body '1Q is provided 14 and a-A compartment* 1b atthel rear of the.= tonneau.

A U shapeabow is isheitoedi Seeed to the side wallsofitliefbody 1Q" andanother of the l bowi I 1s; Tueside y ams- Or' the 100Wl 221er@ ferme-df pivote-(ras, aegee so vthat the' lo'weredbehindthetonneaufinto the compartfrige.

The compartmentl is provided with' coverV QSI-which." is-- hinged' at; 30 adapted'ffto beyswung upwardlyl out oft-hei path ofthev bows: when'C theyr are lowered. The 4cover is then cl'osejd5 concealingfthe-hows or top;l f Q AL pair'o'ffstraps'32 areseCured'to t'hejbody5y cross 'member' 36', which irl-turn is detachably thegwiiidfsliiefd4`0. .Thesestrapsand the t-wo bows form` the supporting frameworkf'or 1" thecovelring AYThe'outer edgeof-fthe covering 42? is providedwithf a 'valance 44",*` shown in Sgcpreferably-stitched'theretbfand emlo'racingY the' stra-p ,32;y which strengthens'fthe" covering; adds vto the appearance of the construction and forms apocket 46 for thekupper'yedges:ofsidejcurtains.f,

members'lS. have been' providedY on tfhev side i embers 'ofthe'bows-S and' 22 which; increasey the'wihlt'li-thereof lsotliat thecovering, extends over the"side'siofthe'body. Figs. and 5 show these members-pin, aposit-iion for maximum width.; rThe members 48arel secured tothe bows, by hinges 50E and torsionalj s'prin'gsf52v Y urgethefmembjers to a positionfor minimum` may hellfoweredf hetw'e'en'ft'he' side walls'ofthe body. When the top' is-iir raised' position; the

the members 48 to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 Without attention of the operator.

In raising the top from a lowered concealed position, it is only necessary to raise the cover 28, remove and unroll the covering and secure the cross member 36 to the windshield side frame members 38. The back portion is then fastened to the body, as shown at 54 and the members 48 swung to a position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 retained by valance 44 It will be understood that various changes including size and arrangement of parts mayV he made without departingfromthe spirit of my invention, illustrated by the drawings and description, and it is not my intention to limit it other than by the terms of the appended claims. Y

What I claim is:

1. In a top construction of the class described comprising, a U shaped bow member having a pair of side arms, a member hinged to each of said side arms normally positioned on the outside of said arms when the top is in raised position to increase the eifective width of said bow and adapted to be swung to a posiion to decrease'the width of said bow mem- 2. In a top construction of the yclass described comprising, U shaped bow members having straight side arms, a covering over the top of said bows having lateral sections along the upper portion of said side arms, under tension when the top is in raised position, members between said arms and said lateral sections for increasing the width of said top, and resilient means for displacing said members when the tension on said lateral sections is removed. Y

3. In a top construction of the class described comprising, a U shaped bow member having straight side arms, short auxiliary side members hinged to and in parallel relation with said side arms and normally positioned at the outside thereof and adapted to be swung to a position away romlthe outside of said arms.

4. In a top construction of the: class def scribed comprising, rigid bow members adapt- Y ered.

ed to be swung within the side walls of an automobile body, a cover for said bow members having depending side portions, means carried by said Vbow members normally held between said bow members and said side portions by the tension of said side portions or increasingv the width of said top when the latter is in raised position, and means for automatically removing said rst named means from between said bow members and said side portions by releasing the tension on said side portions when the top is being low- FREDERICK A. sELJE. 

